Have you ever felt like someone was calling your name when you were alone? Or seen a shadow moving in the corner of the room? But when you look, there is no one there. We call these kinds of experiences hallucinations. Although this is a bit scary, if you understand it correctly , you can overcome that fear. So today we will talk about these hallucinations, or `(Hallucinations)`.
Simply put, what are these hallucinations?
A hallucination is when your five senses (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, skin) perceive something as if it is there that is not there. Simply put, these are false sensations. Although they feel real to you, they are not real. This is due to chemical changes or abnormalities in our brain.
Often, these can be a symptom of a mental illness, especially a condition like schizophrenia . Hallucinations can also be caused by drug use, neurological diseases, and other temporary causes. Some people know they are experiencing hallucinations. But others believe they are real. If someone believes their hallucinations are real, we consider it a psychotic symptom.
What are the main types of illusions?
Illusions can be divided into several main types. Let's look at these in a table to make it easier for you to understand.
| Type of illusion | What happens in it? (Description) |
|---|---|
| Auditory hallucinations (Auditory) | This is the most common type. It involves hearing voices that are not actually there. For example, you may hear voices talking, singing, footsteps, or doors closing. These voices can say good things or bad things. Sometimes you may even hear voices ordering you to harm yourself or others. |
| Visual illusions (Visual) | Seeing things, shapes, people, animals, or lights that are not actually there. |
| Tactile illusions | It's the feeling of someone touching your body, or something moving around inside your body. Imagine, it feels like insects or creatures are moving over your skin, but when you look at it, there's nothing there. |
| Olfactory hallucinations | You smell a scent that is not really there and that others cannot smell. |
| Gustatory illusions | Often, a strange or unpleasant taste in the mouth is felt. A metallic taste is commonly seen in people with epilepsy. |
| Illusions of Presence | Feeling like there's someone else in the room you're in, or like someone is standing behind you. |
| Proprioceptive illusions | Feeling like your body is floating, moving as if you're flying, when you're actually in one place. |
Sleep-related hallucinations
These two types are considered normal by many people.
- Hypnopompic hallucinations: These are hallucinations that occur upon awakening from sleep . Most of the time, these are nothing to worry about.
- Hypnagogic hallucinations: These occur when you fall asleep . These are short-lived. They often involve moving shapes, faces, and animals. These are also usually nothing to be afraid of.
What is the difference between illusions and delusions?
Many people confuse these two.
A hallucination is an experience that you perceive through your senses. That means seeing, hearing, or feeling something that isn't there.
DelusionA false belief that cannot be changed in any way. For example, someone might believe that they have special powers or that someone is trying to poison them. No matter how much evidence they are presented with, they will not change that belief.
What are the causes of hallucinations?
There are various reasons why hallucinations occur. Let's look at them one by one.
Temporary reasons
Hallucinations caused by these causes usually disappear when the cause disappears.
- When going to sleep or waking up.
- Use of alcohol or drugs such as marijuana, LSD, or cocaine.
- High fever , especially in young children and the elderly.
- Lack of water in the body (dehydration).
- Lack of sleep .
- Migraine.
- Severe trauma.
- Severe pain.
- A terrible grief like the death of a loved one.
- Infections such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), especially in the elderly.
- When recovering from anesthesia after surgery.
Mental illness
Some mental illnesses can cause hallucinations.
- Schizophrenia : This is the main mental cause of hallucinations. Hearing voices that are not there is a common symptom of this disease.
- Bipolar Disorder: Delusions can be experienced during severe depressive or manic episodes.
- Major Depression: Hallucinations can occur in some cases of severe depression.
Diseases of the nervous system
Hallucinations can also be caused by diseases related to the brain and nervous system.
- Parkinson's disease: Between 20% and 40% of people with this disease experience hallucinations.
- Alzheimer's disease: Damage to brain cells can cause hallucinations, especially visual hallucinations.
- Lewy body dementia: One of the first symptoms of this disease is visual hallucinations.
- Epilepsy: In epilepsy, which affects certain parts of the brain, hallucinations, especially involving smell, are common.
What are the treatments for this?
Treatment for hallucinations depends on the cause. If the cause is temporary, such as fever or dehydration, the hallucinations will go away once the condition is treated.
For hallucinations caused by chronic illnesses such as schizophrenia , there are medications and treatments prescribed by a doctor .
- Antipsychotic medications can reduce the frequency and severity of hallucinations.
- In some cases, special treatments such as ``Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)`` are used for auditory hallucinations that do not respond to medication.
- Drugs such as `Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors` are used for diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
The most important thing is that your doctor will decide the best treatment for you, so be open and honest with him or her about your experiences.
How do you help someone experiencing hallucinations?
If someone close to you is facing this situation, there are several ways you can help.
- Stay calm: Don't panic. Speak calmly and kindly.
- Don't argue: Don't argue with the person about what they see or hear, saying "it's not like that." That can only make them more upset.
- Be understanding: You can say that you don't see what they see. But sometimes, it's better to talk to them in a way that acknowledges what they're saying to calm them down. For example, if they say there's a dog in the room, saying, " Okay, I'll let the dog out " may help reduce their stress, rather than arguing, "There are no dogs in the room."
- Think about safety: If his magic could endanger him or others, act quickly.
When should you see a doctor?
If you or someone you know is experiencing hallucinations and acting out of touch with reality, it is very important to see a doctor as soon as possible .
Many medical conditions that cause hallucinations can be emergencies. Therefore, never leave someone experiencing hallucinations alone . If necessary, take them to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.
Talk to your doctor about any symptoms you're experiencing, no matter how minor or strange they may seem. Hallucinations can make you feel scared, suspicious, and anxious. So it's important to talk to someone you trust about this.
Take-Home Message
- Hallucinations are the perception of things that are not really there. These are caused by chemical changes in the brain, not by any supernatural force.
- From temporary causes like fever and lack of sleep to schizophrenic-emotionalHallucinations can occur for a variety of reasons, from schizophrenia to chronic diseases such as Parkinson's.
- Don't argue with someone who is experiencing hallucinations. Be calm, kind, and understanding.
- If you or someone you know is losing touch with reality due to hallucinations, seek medical advice immediately . Don't be afraid to talk about it. With proper treatment, it can be managed.
👩🏽⚕️ Additional questions (FAQs)
💬 What exactly are hallucinations?
This is not a dream! 'Hallelujahs' are a very dangerous mental/neurological condition in which you experience 100% real things (Perception in the absence of external stimulus) when you are fully awake/conscious, using all 5 of your senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch). The patient cannot distinguish this as an illusion at all, he thinks it is reality.
💬 What are the main types of hallucinations that people experience? What are they like?
There are 4 main types: 1) Auditory hallucinations - hearing voices/sounds that no one else hears (common in schizophrenia). 2) Visual hallucinations - seeing people, ghosts, and animals that are not there (often caused by drugs/Parkinson's/dementia). 3) Tactile hallucinations - feeling like ants or snakes are crawling all over the body/under the skin (Formication) (especially in people who use Ice/Meth). 4) Olfactory hallucinations - smelling bad smells that are not there (occurring when there is a brain tumor).
💬 What should we do when someone is experiencing hallucinations and when should they be hospitalized?
First of all, remember, don't argue with him (it's true for him). Make him feel safe. However, if 1) he becomes aggressive because he fears that the hallucinations are coming to kill him, 2) he is saying 'kill yourself/kill others' in his voice (command hallucinations), 3) he has a high fever/fit/convulsion along with these hallucinations (delirium/infection), then you absolutely must not stay at home and go to the hospital immediately!
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